-Assistant Min Trawally determined to get it right
By Alfred Kollie alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Liberia’s prison facilities including the Monrovia Central Prison appears to be vulnerable to infiltration of narcotic drug smugglers.
Last week, a big quantity of drugs and other harmful substances valued over 3 million Liberian dollars were discovered in a surprise raid by the Drug Enforcement Agency at the Country’s biggest prison facility, the Monrovia Central Prison.
Assistant Justice Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation Eddie Trawally said the Ministry is making frantic efforts to help clean all prison facilities in Liberia of illicit substances, before a full execution of the government’s rehabilitation program.
Minster Trawally said the joint rapid response team including members of the intelligence bureau at the Ministry of Justice they were on today Monday June 11, 2018 able to arrest huge quantity of drugs to include cocaine, Halloween ,marijuana, and cell phone among other unwholesome substances at the Monrovia central prison.
The drugs seized at the Monrovia Central Prison was on Monday June 11, 2018 officially turned over to the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency in Monrovia.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Justice Minister Trawally said: ‘’despite all the challenges we are experiencing, we are prepared and stand ready to wage full skill war on those elements in the drug cartel business at various prison facilities across Liberia.’’
He noted that upon the instruction and approval of Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, a speedy criminal investigation of those connected to the prison drug saga is ongoing and appropriate action will be taken against them.
‘’Currently one of the Correction officers in the Technical department in person of Moses Varney has been identified in connection to drugs trafficking at the Monrovia central prison,’’ the head of the country’s Correction Bureau said.
According to Minister Trawally, investigations so far show that an additional four officers are also linked to the narcotic drug crime at the Monrovia Central prison.
The Deputy Director General at the LDEA, Mr. Sabastine Gibson said the issue of drugs and other harmful substances should claim the attention of all for the peace, security and happiness of Liberia and its people.
He said this problem is not only government’s responsibility but all Liberians.
The Drug Enforcement Agency official described the recent discovery of narcotic drugs at the Monrovia Central prison as “troubling.”
The Deputy EDA Boss is at the same time recommending to the Justice Ministry the deployment of three or four LDEA officers at prison facilities across Liberia, including the Monrovia central prison.
This move is intended to help correction officers in monitoring drug traffickers and inmates at various facilities across the country.
LDEA Deputy Director Gibson said the drugs seized at the Monrovia Central Prison will be burnt on the 26 of June.
The arrest of the illicit drugs and other harmful substances is the second of its kind in less than one month at the Central Prison in the Liberian capital.
Sources at this facility said the Monrovia Central Prison is protected by ordinary people believed to be drugs traffickers in the area.
The issue of dangerous drugs being used by young people in Liberia is said to be a major factor affecting society.
Social workers say the misuse and abuse of narcotic drugs and other unwholesome substances is increasingly becoming alarming and worrisome.
They have called for urgent and tangible steps to be taken by the government and parents to tackle this national security issue.